What does templar mean?
Templar most commonly denotes a member of the Knights Templar, a medieval Christian military order founded in Jerusalem in the early 12th century. Its members were monks and soldiers who protected pilgrims and other important sites in the Holy Land while also taking part in military campaigns associated with the Crusades. The order became renowned for its military discipline, financial resources, and influential role in medieval Europe before its suppression in the early 14th century. In historical writing, “templar” usually refers to an individual member, while “the Templars” refers to the order as a whole. The word is also used attributively, as in “templar history” or “templar imagery.” In contemporary fiction and games, it often serves as a shorthand for a knightly warrior, secret society, or powerful religious organization, sometimes with strong associations with secrecy, ancient relics, and occult themes. Although those modern uses may be imaginative rather than historical, the term always preserves a clear connection with the medieval order.
A member of the medieval Christian military order known as the Knights Templar.
"The order included Templars from several European kingdoms."
In historical writing, the term may be lowercased for an individual member and capitalized when referring to the order collectively.
Relating to or characteristic of the Templars or their medieval order.
"The manuscript contains illustrations of templar seals and heraldic symbols."
This is mainly a historical and literary adjective.
The standard plural of the noun is “templars.” The collective name for the order is usually “the Templars.”
"Templars from different kingdoms served within the same order."
The Templars began as protectors of pilgrims in the Holy Land before becoming one of medieval Europe’s most powerful military orders.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does templar come from?
The word comes through medieval Latin templarius, meaning “a member of the Temple,” from Latin templum, “temple.” The name referred to the order’s association with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and appeared in the early 12th century. Its English relatives include temple, template, and contemplate, which preserve the same Latin root or its semantic associations.
Related word forms
How templar is actually used
The word is usually historical and is commonly capitalized when referring to the order or its members. In modern fiction and games, it is often used as a label for a secretive or powerful knightly organization.
Easily confused with templar
A templar was a member of the medieval Knights Templar, whereas a template is a model or pattern used as the basis for making something.
A templar was a member of the medieval Knights Templar, whereas a temple is a building used for religious worship or worship.